Aley

For other uses, see Aley (disambiguation).

Aley, Lebanon عاليه
—  City  —
Aley, Lebanon Location in Lebanon
Coordinates: 33°48′29″N 35°36′45″E
Country	Lebanon
Governorate	Mount Lebanon Governorate
District	Aley District
Area
• Water	3.30 sq mi (8.54 km2)
Elevation	2,600 ft (800 m)
Population
• Total	40,000
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	+3 (UTC)

Aley is a picturesque town in Mount Lebanon. It is located 17 km uphill from Beirut, just south of the summer resort of Bhamdoun and north of the strategic town of Souk El Gharb.

Demographics

The natives of Aley are predominantly Druze; however, there are Christian Melkite, Orthodox, and Maronite populations. Many outsiders, especially from Arab countries of the Persian Gulf, own homes in Aley where they spend their summers, escaping the heat and humidity in their own countries. In the 2010 municipal elections, the city accounted 12,504 registered voters.

Etymology

The word "aley" derivatives from Aramaic, and means "high place," referring to the town's high altitude above sea level.

History

Aley gained prominence when the railroad that passed through it was built between 1892 and 1895. The railroad linked the Lebanese capital of Beirut to Damascus. The railroad provided the residents of Beirut easy means of transportation to the mountains, and this made Aley a popular destination to spend the summer months and enjoy its pleasant climate. The town was for a while the summer capital of the Ottoman governors of Mount Lebanon. A Jewish community once frequented this multi-cultural town, and they maintained a synagogue [1], but it has since been abandoned. In 2001, the municipality of Aley began renovating the town center, especially its historic souk, and the town quickly revived its role in Lebanon's tourism.

Tourism

Aley is a major tourist destination in Lebanon and the Middle East. Its location and climate made it a favorable venue for shopping and dining, especially for wealthy Arabs from Persian Gulf states. This resort town with its increasing number of tourists and visitors has become one of the most flourishing resort towns in Mount Lebanon, and thus has garnered its historical name as "The Bride of Summers". The "Souk Aley" is a relatively long boulevard lined with palm trees; there are numerous redroofed stone houses erected on the east side of the street while several street cafes, outdoor restaurants, and nightlife pubs occupy its western side. In addition to these, there are tens of antique shops and retail boutiques along the street, which forms the heart of Aley. Aley also hosts a well-known casino. In 1910 Aley received the founders of the American University of Beirut (AUB), they built castles and lived there for several years. During the 1960s several artists performed in the hotels and the casinos of Aley such as Umm Kulthum, Mohammed Abdel Wahab and Farid Al Atrash. Aley is located in the Kaza of Aley and it has 18 municipality members. In 2009 the municipality joined the Yasa in a safety program to reduce the rate of accidents.

Educational and Health Institutions

The municipality contains twelve schools, four public and eight private. The largest and most important of these schools is the Universal College of Aley, which is considered one of the best schools in the country. There are also two universities in the city: the Lebanese University-Faculty of Economic Science and Business Administrations, and the Modern University of Business and Science(MUBS). Aley has three hospitals: The National Hospital of Aley (30 beds), Al Iman Hospital (52 beds), and Al Ouyoun Hospital, which specializes in ophthalmology.

References

www.facebook.com/AbomjahedEst

External links

• A touristic guide for the city and the caza of Aley
• Government of Lebanon Tourism Site Brochure featuring local maps